Robert Mcdowell

Robert F. McDowell, 80, a resident of rural Avilla, died at 10 p. m. on Thursday, December 11, 2008, at the family residence in Green Township following an extended illness. Mr. McDowell was born in fort Wayne on March 19, 1928, a son of Rosswell C. and Carrie Inez (Fusselman) McDowell, and spent his early years in Ohio.e As a youth he moved to Noble County near Merriam with his parents, and graduated from Wolf Lake High School in 1946. On January 9, 1949 he was married in Merriam to Mary Lou Harlan, and had lived at his present farm home in Green Township for the past 50 years.e Engaged in farming in Noble County for much of his adult life, he had also been employed as a machinist at Dana Corporation in Fort Wayne for 30 years, retiring from there in 1992. He was a member of the Merriam Christian Chapel, Noble County Farm Bureau, had previously served on the board of directors for the Noble County Fair, and served for eight years and was past president of the Indiana State Fair board of directors. The surviving relatives include his wife Mary Lou; three sons Rick (Sharon) McDowell and Brent (Lib) McDowell, both of Avilla, and Gary (Vikki) McDowell of Albion; two daughters Jill (Terry) Shively of Columbia City and Holly (Wayne) Gibson of Churubusco; 13 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters Pauline Clark and Marceil Scott. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a. m. Tuesday, December 16, 2008, in the Merriam Christian Chapel with Pastor Terry L. Zolman, officiating. The family will receive friends at the church multi-purpose room on Monday from 2 to 8 p. m., or one hour prior to the service Tuesday morning. Interment will be in the Christian Chapel Cemetery, Merriam. For those who wish, memorials may be directed to the Merriam Christian Chapel Missionary Fund. Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco is in charge of the arrangements. ********************************* To leave a condolence for the family in Mr. McDowell's memory, please click on "Condolences" below. . .